Syphilis in China from 2000 to 2013: epidemiological trends and characteristics / 中华皮肤科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the trends in and characteristics of syphilis epidemiology in China,and to provide a scientific basis for the development of control strategies.Methods An epidemiological study was performed on syphilis cases reported from 31 provinces,autonomous regions and municipalities between 2000 and 2013.Results The reported syphilis incidence increased yearly from 6.43 per 100 000 person-years in 2000 to 32.86 per 100 000 person-years in 2013,with an average annual growth rate of 13.37％.Syphilis was reported in most (99％) counties/districts in China mainland except for a few remote mountain areas,with a significant difference in the incidence of syphilis between different regions.The regions with a high incidence of syphilis included minority areas in Northwest China (Xinjiang,Qinghai and Ningxia),Minjiang River area,Yangtze River Delta (Zhejiang,Shanghai),Zhujiang River Delta (Guangxi,Guangdong),etc.There had been a rapid increase in the incidence of syphilis in some regions previously reported to have a low incidence (such as Guizhou,Shaanxi,Henan,etc).Among the reported cases,female patients predominated with an average male/female ratio of 0.92 ∶ 1.The incidence of syphilis was highest in the age group of 20-39 years,but increased yearly by more than 30％ in the population aged ＞ 60 years.Of 20 occupations,peasant workers accounted for the highest proportion (31.56％) of syphilis cases,and retired population showed the most rapid increase by about 27.35％ per year.The constituent ratio of primary and secondary syphilis in all the syphilis cases had declined yearly,while that of latent syphilis increased by more than 50％ after 2010.Conclusions Syphilis remains a major public health issue in China,and measures based on the epidemiological features are urgently needed to effectively control epidemic syphilis.